Millions of Brits could be in for a shock if they need to claim on their home insurance, as companies are refusing to pay out for damage caused by DIY jobs done in the home.
Trades website MyBuilder.com is advising people of the jobs they must never tackle themselves, or face being out of pocket should they need to claim on their home insurance.
The site warns that not only does this loophole appear for botched DIY jobs, but it can also be relevant for standard maintenance jobs around the home that have been neglected or badly done.
Badly done DIY and a lack of general maintenance of homes are reported to cost millions of pounds every year in denied insurance payouts. Many home insurance policies have it written into the small print that any claims relating to damage caused by improperly maintained properties will not result in a payout.
This includes failing to carry out general maintenance (such as clearing out your gutters), but also includes any damage directly – or indirectly – caused by DIY jobs.
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Andy Simms, a home maintenance expert from MyBuilder.com, said: “It’s easy to fall behind on home jobs, or think you can manage it yourself. But the reality is that many household jobs require a professional, and in choosing to ignore that you could cost yourself a small fortune.
“And many ‘easy’ DIY jobs are anything but – particularly with fixes or maintenance on boilers, heating systems, or electrics. These should always be carried out by certified experts, or you will face a big bill should it all go wrong.”
The DIY jobs that could impact your insurance
MyBuilder.com has put together a list of issues that may lead to your home insurance policy becoming invalid.
Blocked gutters
Blocked gutters can be a common cause of damp in your home, as water overflow trickles down the exterior of your building, causing leaks that can quickly become an expensive problem.
If your insurer has reason to believe that your gutters have not been cleared, they are unlikely to pay out for any related damp issues in your home.
Installing your own solar panels
Some people are turning to buying and installing their own solar panels to keep the cost down. But not only is this potentially dangerous, it is likely to render your insurance void in the event of a problem. You can shop around for second-hand or discounted solar panels – but always get an expert to install them.
Installing an animal flap
Cat and dog flaps might make your life easier in some ways, but if you install them yourself, you could compromise the safety of your home.
Most insurance policies will ask to know if your home has an animal flap. If you install one without telling them, your insurance could be void.
Not mending damage promptly
Roof tiles coming off, cracks in walls or broken windows are all good examples of damage that needs to be repaired – and quickly.
Should an issue occur in your home that can be attributed to problems that should have been fixed, you could find your insurer won’t pay out.
Not having secure windows and doors
Insecure windows and doors are a big problem when it comes to payouts after burglaries. Any cracks in windows, weaknesses in frames or dodgy locks should be replaced as soon as possible.
In the unfortunate event of a break-in, if an insurance provider suspects a weakness in security, you might struggle to get a payout.
Servicing your own boiler
If you’re not a gas professional or a Gas Safe Engineer, then servicing your own boiler is illegal under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
Doing a DIY job on any of these systems is not only illegal but also dangerous. Worryingly, in a recent survey from MyBuilder.com of people affected by the cost-of-living crisis, 23% of respondents had not serviced their boiler in the past 12 months.
Related: Warning: A spare key could invalidate your home insurance
